Zeolite, and catalyst for use in production of aromatic hydrocarbon which comprises same

Abstract

Provided are: novel zeolite having an extremely small amount of specific Bronsted acid sites on the surface thereof, which is expected to be useful as a catalyst for the aromatization of a non-aromatic hydrocarbon typified by an aliphatic hydrocarbon; and a catalyst for use in the production of an aromatic hydrocarbon, which comprises the zeolite. Zeolite characterized by satisfying the following requirements (i) to (iii). (i) The zeolite has an average particle diameter of 100 nm or less. (ii) The zeolite is 10-membered ring microporous zeolite. (iii) The amount of the Bronsted acid sites on the outer surface of the zeolite is 0.1 to 10.0 μmol/g.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A zeolite satisfying the following characteristics (i) to (iii):
 (i) an average particle diameter is 100 nm or less, 
 (ii) the zeolite is a 10-membered ring pore zeolite, and 
 (iii) a Bronsted acid amount on an outer surface is 0.1 to 10.0 μmol/g. 
 
     
     
       2. The zeolite according to  claim 1 , wherein the 10-membered ring pore zeolite is an MFI type or an MEL type. 
     
     
       3. The zeolite according to  claim 1 , wherein the zeolite satisfies the following characteristic (iv):
 (iv) a Bronsted acid amount of 0.1 to 1.0 mmol/g. 
 
     
     
       4. A catalyst for producing aromatic hydrocarbons, comprising the zeolite according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       5. The catalyst for producing aromatic hydrocarbons according to  claim 4 , further comprising silica. 
     
     
       6. The catalyst for producing aromatic hydrocarbons according to  claim 4 , wherein the catalyst is a molded article having a columnar shape or a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
       7. The catalyst for producing aromatic hydrocarbons according to  claim 6 , wherein the catalyst is a molded article having a columnar shape with a diameter of 1 to 10 mm. 
     
     
       8. The catalyst for producing aromatic hydrocarbons according to  claim 6 , wherein the catalyst is a molded article having a cylindrical shape with a thickness of 0.5 to 5.0 mm. 
     
     
       9. A method for producing aromatic hydrocarbons, comprising contacting a raw material comprising at least 70 percent by mass non-aromatic hydrocarbons having 4 to 6 carbon atoms with the catalyst for producing aromatic hydrocarbons according to  claim 4 .